NICALENE COIN CLEANER
Larger coin is encrusted with a dark green, rough, coral-like encrustation. Smaller coin has a partial patina and is cracked.
Initially the coins weigh 4.1 grams combined, and haven't been pre-soaked, so may gain "water" weight.
The main ingredient in this stuff is phospheric acid- I don't have high hopes.
Putting them in a plastic container, and adding just enough to cover the coins- the coins immediately begin to bubble. While adding drops, the dirt simply seems to rinse away. Liquid starts as being a bright pink, but after 15 seconds, is nearly black.
After 1 minute, larger coin is still bubbling, while the smaller one has stopped.
After 1.5 minutes, no more bubbling.
I rinsed the coins off in the sink, and toothbrushed them. The crud is just falling off...
Coins now weigh 3.95g. Patina was removed from the smaller coin, but I expected that. It looked like it may have been a false patina to begin with. Most of the encrustation on the Follis was removed, and the remaining bits are considerably softer- I can scratch it with my fingernail. Unfortunately, patina was removed in spots as well- or perhaps the encrustation didn't allow patina to manifest itself in spots.
TEST TWO
Big hunk of crud had been zapping for close to five hours. Thickness ranges from 5.7mm to 10.8mm. Weight begins at 16.4g.
Applied drops to each side, and let it sit for about 1 minute. Coin now weighs 15.9g, and ranges from 5.5 to 10.2 mm thick.
I took a pick to it, to see if anything was loosened and removed some. Coin's weight down to 15.1g. Applied more drops to the "bad" side. Weight down to 14.8g. I give up on this, throwing it back in the zapper.
TEST THREE
Fel Temp is medium soiled, chipped, has no exergue and seems to be a good patina. Starting weight at 2.3g.
I applied a couple drops to the obverse, let it soak for about 15 seconds, then immersed it in water. After a toothbrushing, patina still seems intact, except for a small spot along the neck. Most dirt seems to have been removed and now weighs 2.2g.
This may work in soaks of 5-10 seconds, as an initial "booster". I'll have to remember this one for another trial-
